Waiting For The Ambulance To Cross

As we are learning more, are we seeing a pattern of artificial hysteria being created respecting the ambulance affair? And if so, why?

I am just as upset as most people I am certain about the story of US Customs not allowing the ambulance with the heart patient to go through the border quickly but rather pulling it over for secondary inspection. But is there more involved with this story than we know? Are politicians using us again for their own agendas?

This follows a story about a Canadian firetruck that was delayed by US Customs in entering the United States to assist in a fire. ( Subsequently, we learned that "The border guard didn't want to let them through because they didn't have identification." We also learned that "tighter restrictions may be in place because of the May 24 incident in which Andrew Speaker, who was infected with a rare, drug-resistant form of tuberculosis, entered the United States from Canada at the Champlain crossing." Are those good excuses or not? I will let you be the judge in these days of terrorism.)

I am sure that we will find out a lot more details over the next few weeks that may actually explain what went on without the noise that seems to be taking over now. Is there a protocol in place and was it followed are the most obvious questions to ask.

However I was intrigued by the comment of Dean Wilkinson of the Windsor-Essex EMS

• "Nevertheless, Wilkinson said he is not worried about the practice, given that most of the 150 or so yearly ambulance transfers to Detroit occur without a snag and that those which are stopped usually wait less than five minutes.
  
  "Our staff were not concerned about the stop," Wilkinson said Sunday. "Because they understand that it may happen and that it has happened in the past...
  
  Canadian-American protocol allows border guards to inspect emergency vehicles."

Here is what our Fire Chief said:

• "It's unlikely paramedics, firefighters of medical staff on an emergency run would be delayed at the Windsor-Detroit border while their paperwork is thoroughly checked, thanks to protocol and informal agreements in place, emergency and customs authorities say.
  
  "We are always testing for emergency planning," said Chief Dave Fields of Windsor Fire and Rescue Services.
  
  "We have developed great relationships, so I believe we are OK."

The professionals involved in this every day did not seem to be too upset. If that is so, then why has the Mayor been making headlines about this for the past few days? Why have there been headlines in the national media about the story? The Mayor surely has the ability to contact the ambulance service and to ask the questions about what happened and to give us answers and reassurance quickly.

Here is why I'm so cynical about all of this. The Star headline also said:

• "It's happened 10 times within the past two years."

Where were all the headlines and the Mayor's protestations on all of the other occasions? Why now? Why didn't he react then? How many times does something have to happen before Eddie gets off his rear end and does something? Here's an interesting quotation from the Mayor:

• "What happened on Monday is something that you don't expect to happen with the protocols in place," Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis told CTV News."

How can he say that when he knows, or should know, that this is happened before even with protocols in place? How can he say this when he knows, or should know, that the protocol allows for inspections?

Is it all a phony story designed to create headlines? Is there perhaps another reason behind all of this? How about this for an explanation. Brian Masse, Stockwell Day and the Canadian Ambassador to United States have given it away. Here is what Brian had to say:

• "It's another sad chapter of what's happening at the border," New Democrat MP Brian Masse told CTV News. "It's becoming a militarized zone."

Here is what Ambassador Michael Wilson was talking about a few days before:

• "U.S. Customs and Border Protection should review and reduce excessive security measures at the Canada-U.S. line or risk turning it into a parking lot, Ambassador Michael Wilson told the agency Wednesday."

And Stockwell Day:

• "CTV News reports Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day has expressed concern and asked for a review of border procedures in a letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "

Is it all part of the border game? Are our politicians really using the fire truck and ambulance issues to achieve their agenda with the US, whatever that agenda is? How low can we sink if it is? Now we can use heart attack victims and fire trucks as pawns to accomplish a political purpose. I can hardly wait to see what is next.